Australia’s first fully-automated metro system receives first trains

Australia’s biggest public transport project, a fully automated metro in Sydney, has taken delivery of its first automated trains from Alstom.

Sydney is the first city in Australia to implement a fully-automated metro system, providing a modern transport solution that will be able to meet the needs of the growing city. Services are scheduled to start in the first half of 2019.

The first three of 22 six-car trains have been delivered to the Sydney Metro Trains Facility at Rouse Hill and will endure testing over the coming months. The €5.2 billion project will supply a new system capable of providing a high level of service, with a train every four minutes in each direction during peak time.

In 2024, it is expected for the services to extend into the city and will have an ultimate capacity of a metro train every two minutes in each direction under the city.

“We are extremely proud to be able to deliver another first for Sydney with our latest and most innovative automated metro technology,” said Mark Coxon, Managing Director for Alstom in Australia and New Zealand. “This train and associated technologies will transform Sydney and provide a step change in the city’s public transport capability and reliability.”

Customers were a focus during the development of the new trains, with the emphasis towards greater on-board mobility and comfort. The trains include three double-doors per side in each car for improved access and passenger flows, large windows and ambient LED lighting. The trains will offer the highest levels of customer safety including constant CCTV monitoring, emergency intercoms and the latest way-finding aids for customer information and real-time travel information. 

The system will also operate Alstom’s computer based train control system (CBTC), Urbalis 400, which minimises the time stopped at stations and the times between each service – ensuring a comfortable and reliable journey for all customers.